Click on the picture to watch an audio slideshow of a hike to Hraunsvatn lake in Öxnadalur valley in north Iceland, which lies at a height of 490 meters, interlocked between two steep mountains and a small glacier with a view of the majestic Hraundrangar peaks.
more
Fjallabyggd (“Mountain Settlement”) is a skier’s dream. Its slopes are perfect for slaloming and there are also tracks for telemark skiing. Winter sporting enthusiasts can also go ice skating or rent snowmobiles. In summer, Fjallabyggd turns into a paradise for hikers. Read this special promotion about one of Iceland’s best hidden gems.
more
There are rumors circling that Ögmundur Jónasson, an MP for the Left-Greens, who resigned from his post as minister of health last year due to a disagreement with the government leaders on Icesave, might rejoin the cabinet.
The government was weakened by the outcome of the referendum on Saturday and requires reinforcement to tackle important and impending projects. The most obvious way to do that is to reappoint Jónasson as minister, according to Fréttabladid’s sources.
The newspaper’s sources from within the Social Democrats and the Left-Greens state that plans for Jónasson’s comeback are in the pipelines and that he will probably rejoin the cabinet shortly after Easter.
However, Jónasson himself has allegedly not been eager to become minister again; the demand is being made by his close political associates. It is unclear whether he will take the chair of health minister again.
Allegedly, other changes are also being planned for the government, including a review of its action plan.
Click here to read more about Jónasson’s resignation.
Iceland Review is known for its great photos. Many buy the magazine just for the photos but the articles certainly do not hurt. The daily photo column in Iceland Review was extremely popular during the summer of 2005 and photo features on the web also enjoy great popularity.
more
Today, a conference will be held at the Icelandic Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo regarding energy solutions and ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
more
The new banks, or those profiting from purchasing the assets of the old banks’ money market funds, could be forced to reimburse to the state the amount they spent on the purchases.
The turnout was massive at the meeting of citizens’ organization Bót, held last night at the Reykjavík City Hall. The organization was founded to fight poverty in Iceland.
more
The second issue of the print edition of Iceland Review 2010 has just been published. Entitled “Under the Volcano” the magazine dedicates 20 pages, words and pictures, to the volcanic eruption in Eyjafjallajökull glacier which made headlines all over the word. New subscribers will receive the book Puffins as a gift and all subscribers are part of a draw to win a trip to Iceland. Click here to subscribe to the magazine.
more
Future of Hope is an aptly named documentary directed by Henry Bateman about what some people are doing to shape the future of Iceland, hoping that above all, the crisis will ultimately strengthen the country.
more
There can’t be many novels that are heralded as being “a purification for body and soul” recommended to “those who enjoy experimental cookery” (review of November Rain in DV newspaper) and “as beautiful as a painting from the golden age” (review of The Offspring by Danish newspaper Politiken). However, Reykjavík based writer, Audur Ava Ólafsdóttir, has attracted such attention not to mention literary prizes.
more
Have a laugh this week by visiting Hafnarborg, the Hafnarfjördur Centre of Culture and Fine Art, where the exhibition “Humor in Icelandic Art” is currently running. The exhibition consists of works by contemporary Icelandic artists from different generations which deal with humor and irony.
more